Aside from the delicious saké and rice, Niigata has one of the most remarkable photo ops in all of Japan, and hundreds of thousands of Japanese people and international visitors come to Niigata Prefecture photographing Nagaoka’s Fireworks.  The festival spans three days and uses over 20,000 fireworks as part of its grand display.

One interesting element is how much native Japanese culture surfaces as part of the firework presentation.  For example, while you photograph the glittering fireworks, you can see the national flower, the chrysanthemum recreated in the sparkling beauty of the Nagaoka Fireworks.  Some of Japan’s spectacular waterfalls, volcanoes, and other native landscapes will also come alive in glimmering beauty.  However, the piece de resistance of the Nagaoka Fireworks is the Phoenix Display.  The Phoenix is over five minutes of non-stop fireworks set to Ayaka Hirahara’s song “Jupiter.”  

Being one of the top three fireworks performances in Japan, Nagaoka is a must see for anyone interested in festival and firework photography.  The night comes alive with the fireworks, and the Japan Dreamscapes (JDS) Photography Workshop Leader will use the years of experience in Niigata and in Japan to help you get to the best locations to enjoy the shutter chances the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival can provide for you.

A JDS photography tour leader will also introduce you the rest of the Nagaoka Festival.  August 2nd and 3rd are for fireworks, but August 1st will be photos of the portable shrines, called mikoshi, traditional dance processions, and floating lanterns, called toro nagashi.  Your JDS photo tour leader will help you navigate the city and be in the best locations to capture these attractions as part of your introduction to Nagaoka Fireworks and Niigata Prefecture!